A new road traffic Bill, introduced in the Dβil last night, provides for the Government's long-promised introduction of penalty points for motorists.
Penalty points would be recorded for three years, and, where a total of 12 was reached, the person would be automatically disqualified from driving for six months, the Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Bobby Molloy, said.
"This reflects the fact that a person will reach that threshold only where he or she is involved in a number of separate incidents involving offences that attract penalty points.
"In addition, penalty points will be recorded in many incidents where a person decides to pay a fixed charge so as to avoid the matter proceeding to court."
He said the aim of the system was to improve driver behaviour by instilling greater caution and responsibility in motorists.
Mr Molloy said that in the case of the majority of offences, there would always be a distinct choice presented to a person receiving a notice of the commission of a penalty point offence.
The person could either pay the fixed charge, and incur a low level of points, or he or she might decide to allow the matter to proceed to court.
Where a court convicted a person, the level of penalty points was increased significantly, he said.
Mr Molloy said the Road Traffic Bill 2001 also provided for increases in certain financial penalties for road traffic offences and the introduction of a revised system of fixed charges to replace the current "on-the-spot" fine.
It also provided for preliminary breath testing of drivers where they were involved in a road accident or a breach of road traffic law.
Responsibility for the control of taxi stands and bus stops was being transferred from the Garda Commissioner to local authorities, he added.
Fine Gael's local government spokeswoman, Ms Olivia Mitchell, "welcomed unreservedly" the long-awaited legislation.
Anything that contributed to greater road safety was to be greatly welcomed, she said, particularly given the increasing number of fatal road accidents and single car accidents involving young people.
Ms Mitchell said there had been "an unforgivable delay" in the introduction of the penalty points system which was first announced in 1998, and promised in legislation for 1999. That target was missed and other targets were missed, she said.
The Bill was finally before the Oireachtas, but she said it would be at least another 12 months before the penalty points system was introduced "and I suspect, probably even longer", said Ms Mitchell.
